Plastic jewelry finding device made of two parts integrally joined



July 7, 1959 2,893,095

- L. F. DOHN v PLASTIC JEWELRY FINDING DEVICE. MADE OF TWO PARTS INTEGRALLY JOINED Filed July 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 x III A m\\\\\\\\\\ I INVENTOR.

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PLASTIC JEWELRY FINDING DEVICE MADE OF TWO PARTS INTEGRALLY JOINED FiledJuly 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ATTORNEYS United States Patent PLASTIC JEWELRY FINDING DEVICE MADE OF TWO PARTS INTEGRALLY JOINED Leo F. Dohn, Jamaica, N.Y., assignor to Guild Arts 8: Crafts, Inc., a corporation of New York Application July 24, 1952, Serial No. 300,670

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-465) This invention relates generally to jewelry, rosaries, millinery and dress ornaments and methods for manu facturing the same, and more particularly to jewelry and rosary findings and the like.

The present method of securing a jewelry strand such as a strand of beads to a finding for a necklace, choker, bracelet, rosary or the like includes threading of such a strand through a metal tip and subsequently knotting the strand. The threaded tip is then attached to, or fitted into, an eyelet, ring, chain or the like of a clasp or finding. Although machines have been developed for threading and knotting the strands, the threaded tips must be secured to the clasp or finding by hand. In the assembly of jewelry comprising a plurality of strands of beads or the like the threading and fastening operations must be performed on each strand. It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a method of securing one or more strands to a jewelry finding, using but one simple operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of securing jewelry, comprising strands, to a finding or clasp, which eliminates the necessity for threading and tying knots in each strand.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method of securing a rosary strand to a crucifix or medallion.

Another object of my invention is to provide a jewelry finding which is durable, attractive and economical of manufacture and assembly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a jewelry finding, to which strands of beads or the like are permanently secured, thereby preventing loss of, or damage to, the article of jewelry.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a finding for a plurality of beaded strands for use in a necklace, choker, bracelet or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rosary medallion or crucifix made of plastic material or the like and integrally secured to the rosary strand.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a jewelry finding made of plastic material or the like, and which may be assembled by the use of heat or solvents.

Further objects of my invention will be readily understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawing.

I accomplish the objects of my invention generally by providing a method of securing a bead strand to a finding bar, comprising positioning said strand between mating faces of two body members and integrally uniting said body members together over the faces thereof, to form a bead finding assembly having said bead strand permanently secured thereto.

More specifically, one form of my invention comprises a method of securing a bead strand to a finding bar comprising two body members of thermo-plastic material by positioning said strand between mating surfaces of said body members and fusing said thermo-plastic members together to form a bead finding assembly. I

In a further form of my invention, the finding bar ice assembly, is united with the bead strand secured therebetween by cementing said body members together. A still further embodiment comprises a finding bar having two body members of solvent-softenable material secured together with the bead strand therebetween by applying a solvent to the mating surfaces of the body members, pressing said body members tightly together, and evaporating the excess solvent.

A further embodiment of my invention comprises a bead finding comprising two body members having mating surfaces adapted to accommodate a flexible strand therebetween and to be integrally united with one another over their mating surfaces to secure between them the end of said strand.

Another embodiment comprises such a jewelry finding wherein one of said body members is grooved to accommodate said flexible strand.

A further embodiment of my invention comprises a finding comprising two body members having mating surfaces, one of said members being recessed and the other of which fits snugly into said recess, one edge of one of said body members being provided with a notch for accommodating a flexible strand, said body members when assembled with their mating surfaces integrally united acting to clamp between them the end of said strand in said'recess.

Still another embodiment of my invention comprises a finding comprising a recessed body member provided with a bordering flange defining a recess, one length of said flange being provided with a notch to accommodate a strand, a second body member having a surface adapted to mate with the recessed surface of said first body member adapted to fit snugly into said recess and acting, when said body members are integrally united over their mating surfaces, to clamp and hold one end of said strand between said body members in said recess.

A still further embodiment of my invention comprises a bead finding assembly including two body members having mating surfaces, said members being positioned with their mating surfaces in abutment and a flexible bead strand positioned between said members, the mating surfaces of said body members being integrally united with one another.

Still a further embodiment of my invention comprises such a bead finding assembly wherein a plurality of bead strands are positioned between said body members.

In another form of my invention, I provide a bead finding assembly comprising two body members having mating surfaces, one of said body members being recessed and the other of which fits snugly into said recess, one edge of one of said body members being provided with a notch for accommodating a flexible strand, a flexible bead strand positioned in said notch and between the mating surfaces of said body members, said mating surfaces of said body members being integrally united with one another to form a bead finding assembly having said flexible bead strand permanently secured thereto.

My invention further comprises such an assembly wherein said two body members comprise a rosary crucifix and said strand comprises a rosarystrand.

Another embodiment of my invention comprises such an assembly wherein said two body members comprise a rosary medallion. In this instance the edge of one of said body members is provided with three notches and three rosary strands are secured between the body members to form a rosary assembly.

A still further embodiment of my invention comprises a bead finding assembly comprising a recessed body member provided with a bordering flange defining a recess, one length of said flange being provided with a notch to accommodate a flexible bead strand, a second body member having a surface adapted to mate with e s css d'su a of s fir t o y em r nd d p ed to fit snugly in said recess, and a flexible bead strand positioned in said notch and between the mating surfa e of sa d b d m mber th a in su a s o s id b y membe s heirs e ra l u ited with qnf aao hsr s cn a ea fin ins as emb hayin ai fl ible bead strandpermanently secured thereto.

I an he embod men o m n e n I P ov d such ah d finding a m whe in id a e s provided with a plurality of notchesand a plurality of bead strands are positioned in said notches and between said mating surfaces and permanently secured therein.

Other embodiments include such assemblies wherein the strands co pri osa y s and n e se r d t a rosa y cruc fix or e a l n- .In'the draw ngs,

Figure 1 is a top view of one form of body member of 1a je e y nd p s n y ven o Figure 2is a bottom view of the form of jewelry finding member shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of a finding member adapted to be used with the finding member shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the finding assembly comprising the members shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, together with the bead strand shown secured h t Figure 5 is a top view of another form of finding body member comprising part of my invention;

Figure 6 is a side view of a jewelry finding assesrnbly formed from two members of the type shown in Figure 5, shown with the bead strands secured therein;

Figure 7 is a top view of another form of finding body member comprising part of my invention;

Figure ,8 is a side view of a jewelry finding assembly formed from two members of the type shown in Figure 7, showing the bead strands secured thereto;

Figure 9 is a top view of a bead finding assembly showing the bead strand secured therein;

Figure 10 is a side view of the bead finding assembly shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a front View of a rosary embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 12 is a side view of a rosary medallion comprising part of my invention;

Figure 13 is a front view of a rosary medallion member comprising part of my invention;

' Figure 14 is a view taken along lines 1414 of Figure l3;

Figure 15 is a back view of a rosary medallion member which is adapted to mate with the medallion member shown inFigures 13 and 14;

Figure 16 is' a side view of the medallion member shown in Figure 15;

Figure 17' is a back view of a rosary crucifix forming part of my invention, shown' with the strand and 'the strand-securing member removed;

Figure 18 is a view taken along lines 18-18 of Figure '17;

Figure 19 is a side view of a strand-securing member adapted to be secured in the crucifi r shown in Figures 17' and 18;

Figure 20 is a front view of the strand-securing member shown in Figure 19.

i In Figure l the body portion of a finding bar member is indicated generally at 11, having a hole 12 for attaching the finding to a clasp or the like. The member 11 may take any desired shape or design, the member shown in the drawing having ascalloped effect. In Figure 2, the bottom side of member 11 is shown, showing a recess indicated generally at 13, formed by a surrounding flange member 14. The bottom portion of recess'13is preferably flat. One edge of the flange 14 is provided with notches 15, three such notches being shown in the drawing, although it is understood that any desired number may be provided.

Figure 3 shows a second member 16 which forms a preferred type of finding of the present invention, which consists of a preferably flattenedpiece, adapted to fit snugly into the recess 13 of the finding member 11. The surface of member 16 is adapted to mate with the surface of the recess 13 in the member 11. The members 11 and 16 may be of any desired material, such as wood, hard rubber or synthetic plastics, synthetic plastic material being preferred. I have found that cellulose acetate forms a very satisfactory material for the manufacture of finding bar members 11 and 16.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an assembled jewelry finding, together with a bead strand secured therein. Thus, the bead strand 17 projects through one of the notches 15, the member 16 is inserted into the recess 13, and the entire mating surfaces of the member 16 and of the recess portion of member 11 are firmly united together, securing the strand 17 therein. The strand 17 is shown carrying an ornamental bead 18.

In my preferred method for uniting the members 16 and 11 to form the bead finding assembly with the bead strand 17 secured therein, the members 11 and 16 are firmly united together. Thus, if the finding members are made of wood or hard rubber or the like, the members may be cemented together. If the finding members are made of thermoplastic material, such as cellulose acetate, or other suitable thermoplastic resins, the finding assembly may be assembled by heating the members to the softening point and clamping them together, with one or more strands 17 positioned between them, until they are firmly united. I have found that a small headed jig may be used to support finding member 11 while one or more strands 17 are positioned in their respective notches 15 'and the member 16 fitted into the recess 13, while the entire assembly is heated and pressure applied to firmly unite the members. Under the application of such heat and pressure, the thermo-plastic material flows around the strands 17 and thereby securely anchors the strands within the finding assembly.

In another method of assembling the jewelry finding, the members Hand 16 are made of cellulose acetate or similar plastic material and suitable solvent for such material, such as acetone, chloroform or the like, is applied to the surfaces of member 16 and of the recessed portion of member 11. Before the solvent has evaporated, members 16 and 11 are pressed tightly together, with the one or more strands 17 positioned therebetween, until excess solvent has evaporated. The solvent serves to soften the plastic material of which the finding mem bers are composed and the application of pressure firmly unites the members together with the strands 17 firmly anchored therein.

Another embodiment of my invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6. A finding member is shown at 19 which is suitably provided with a hole 20 for attachment to a clasp or the like. The member 19 is shown with three grooves 21 adapted to accommodate a similar number of flexible strands. Itwill be understood that any desired number of strands may be secured to a finding of this type. Figure 6 shows a finding assembly formed from two of such members 19, with strands 17 secured therein. The members 19 are made of any suitable material, such as wood, hard rubber or synthetic plastics, and are sui ably united as by means of cement; heat and pressure in the case of thermo-plastic materials; or by means of a solvent in the case of solvent-softenable materials, as described above.

The finding members 19 preferably have clasps 21 as shown in Figure 5 to accurately position one or more strands to be secured thereto. 1 have found, however, that the grooves 21 'are not essential in the manufacture of a suitable finding. Thus, in Figures 7 and 8, I have shown a finding member 22 consisting of a flat piece of material having a suitable clasp-engaging hole 23. In such case, the two such members 22 are united over their mating faces with one or mere strands 17 secured therebetween, as shown in Figure 8. The finding members 22 are preferably united in the fashion described above. Figures 9 and 10 show a completed finding assembly for use in a choker, necklace or bracelet, and which is formed from two members 24, which may be of the type indicated by 19 or 22.

A rosary assembled in accordance with my invention is shown in Figure 11. The medallion is indicated generally at 25, the crucifix at 26, and the rosary strand at 27.

As shown in Figures 12-16, the medallion is formed of two mating members, 28 and 29, preferably made of synthetic plastic material. Member 29 is provided with a peripheral flange 30 which defines a recess as shown in Figures 13 and 14. The flange 30 is provided with three notches 31 adapted to receive the rosary strand 27. The mating member 28 is provided with an extending edge 32 adapted to cover the flange 31 of member 29.

The mating medallion members 28 and 29 are firmly united together with the rosary strands secured therebetween by any of the methods set forth herein to form a medallion assembly as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The medallion preferably carries suitable indicia (not shown).

The crucifix member 26, preferably made of synthetic plastic or the like, is provided with a recessed portion 33 and a notch 34 communicating therewith adapted to receive the rosary strand. The strand securing member 35 fits into the recess 34 and is firmly united to the crucifix with the strand held therebetween. In the embodiment shown in Figures 17-20, the strand-securing member 35 is designed to conform to the configuration of the relief indicia 36 on the crucifix. Obviously any desired indicia may be provided on the back of the crucifix instead of the cross in relief as shown. Additionally, the front of the crucifix may be provided with suitable indicia (not shown).

The methods described herein are preferably used in assembling the rosary crucifix and medallion assemblies. The component members are preferably made of thermoplastic or solvent-softenable plastic materials and are assembled by means of heat, cement or solvents, as described. Rosaries made in accordance with the present invention are durable, attractive and are inexpensively assembled.

It will be appreciated that, with the improved finding of my invention and using my improved process for assembling the same, a great saving in effort is accomplished. Thus, a plurality of strands of beads or the like may be secured to a finding with one simple operation, involving only the positioning of the strands on one of the finding members, positioning of a second finding member in engagement with the first finding member, and with the strands therebetween, and suitably uniting members together, as by means of heat, cement or solvents, as described.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferred forms, it will be apparent that various modifications and departures may be made by those skilled in the art, and it is intended that all such variations be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A plastic end-finding comprising a body member provided with a recess, the side walls of which are a multisided bordering flange and the bottom wall of which is a surface of said body member, one side only of said flange being provided with at least one notch to accommodate a flexible strand, a second body member substantially complimentary with said recess and having a mating surface adapted to mate with the bottom surface of said recess, a flexible bead strand positioned in said notch and between the mating surfaces of said body members, said mating surfaces being of such a composition that they will integrally unite throughout their mating surfaces to form a bead finding assembly having said flexible strand permanently secured thereto.

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